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The Belles of Waterloo
Maria, Georgy and Harriet navigate their first throes of passion, scandal, and love in the heady pre-war atmosphere of Brussels in 1815.
Little do they know they will soon be waltzing their way to the battle of the century at a small village called Waterloo.
As the fight for Europe rages outside the city walls, Maria seeks to find herself – will she also find a husband along the way?
Little do they know they will soon be waltzing their way to the battle of the century at a small village called Waterloo.
As the fight for Europe rages outside the city walls, Maria seeks to find herself – will she also find a husband along the way?
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 8, 2022
A wonderfully engaging page-turner that perfectly captures the grandeur, decadence and excitement of the era in this vividly descriptive regency romance inspired by true events. I really enjoyed getting to know the spirited and vivacious Capel family who, despite being a real and very prominent family, lived a life just as entertaining and dramatic as any of the fictionalised families we’ve come to know and love in recent years (i.e.The Crawleys or Bridgertons.)
Following the lives of Maria, Georgy and Harriet Capel; The Belles of Waterloo captures the passion, scandal and love in the heady pre-war atmosphere of Brussels in 1815. Little for they know there about to waltz their way into a front row seat to the battle of the century at a small village called Waterloo. As the fight for Europe rages, Maria seeks to find herself … and possibly a husband along the way.
This so really good! I definitely enjoyed the level of historical accuracy that we get to experience as, unlike most writers Alice Church manages to keep to the facts without the plot becoming too convoluted or dull. It was also intriguing to learn what life was actually like during this tempestuous period of history; for those who bore witness to one of the most infamous wars in European history (It did inspire an ABBA song,after all.)
The eldest Capel sisters:Harriet, Maria and Georgy and their mother Lady Caroline are the characters we get the most depth from (Particularly Caroline and Maria who get several POV chapters to themeselves) which makes sense given the source material are letters sent by Lady Caroline and her daughters to her mother, the Dowager Countess of Uxbridge. However, the vividly descriptive and evocative emotions brought to life by Church were definitely one of the main reasons I enjoyed this soo much.
As any true romance lover will attest, the chemistry between the protagonist and love interest is the most important aspect of any romance. And, though I did enjoy that aspect, I did feel that (in Harriet and Georgy’s case especially) the romance was kind of muted,with no real development in their relationships. However, I do think Lady Caroline’s relationship with her husband (the ups and downs) as well as Maria’s romantic endeavours were well developed and some of the most enjoyable of the lot.
I did however really liked that, as these characters are based on people who actually lived, it was very easy to find out what happened to them long after the battle ended. And, to know whether they got their happily ever afters via Church’s incredibly detailed Afterword, which I very much appreciated.
Overall, a compelling and expertly crafted regency romance that history buffs and Bridgerton lovers alike are certain to enjoy.
A huge thank you to Random Things Tours and Unicorn Publishing Group for the physical copy.
Following the lives of Maria, Georgy and Harriet Capel; The Belles of Waterloo captures the passion, scandal and love in the heady pre-war atmosphere of Brussels in 1815. Little for they know there about to waltz their way into a front row seat to the battle of the century at a small village called Waterloo. As the fight for Europe rages, Maria seeks to find herself … and possibly a husband along the way.
This so really good! I definitely enjoyed the level of historical accuracy that we get to experience as, unlike most writers Alice Church manages to keep to the facts without the plot becoming too convoluted or dull. It was also intriguing to learn what life was actually like during this tempestuous period of history; for those who bore witness to one of the most infamous wars in European history (It did inspire an ABBA song,after all.)
The eldest Capel sisters:Harriet, Maria and Georgy and their mother Lady Caroline are the characters we get the most depth from (Particularly Caroline and Maria who get several POV chapters to themeselves) which makes sense given the source material are letters sent by Lady Caroline and her daughters to her mother, the Dowager Countess of Uxbridge. However, the vividly descriptive and evocative emotions brought to life by Church were definitely one of the main reasons I enjoyed this soo much.
As any true romance lover will attest, the chemistry between the protagonist and love interest is the most important aspect of any romance. And, though I did enjoy that aspect, I did feel that (in Harriet and Georgy’s case especially) the romance was kind of muted,with no real development in their relationships. However, I do think Lady Caroline’s relationship with her husband (the ups and downs) as well as Maria’s romantic endeavours were well developed and some of the most enjoyable of the lot.
I did however really liked that, as these characters are based on people who actually lived, it was very easy to find out what happened to them long after the battle ended. And, to know whether they got their happily ever afters via Church’s incredibly detailed Afterword, which I very much appreciated.
Overall, a compelling and expertly crafted regency romance that history buffs and Bridgerton lovers alike are certain to enjoy.
A huge thank you to Random Things Tours and Unicorn Publishing Group for the physical copy.
April 20, 2022
The Capels run away from London to settle down in Brussels. While they’re some of the first to arrive there, they have to try to cover up that the man of the house has basically run up around 20k in debt. A pretty big amount of money in this day and age, so you can imagine back then when Napoleon was still fighting what that amount meant. With no money and 7 children, they try to settle down in a new city and get the eldest three married off. Harriet, Marie, and Georgy are absolutely charming young women, but without any money, they might just never get married.
If your geography is as weak as mine, I’d just like to put it out there that Waterloo is about a half an hour car ride from Brussels, hence the name, The Belles of Waterloo and not The Belles of Brussels, which admittedly also has a nice ring to it.
While the book was very sweet, it’s primarily focused on Maria, who’s trying to deal with her own proposals and feelings. Harriet, who used to be the more reasonable of the siblings, has her heart broken, which results in a duel between her father and the Baron. You have Georgy, who’s crazy about the prince, even though everyone can tell nothing will come of it.
I thought it was very interesting how the rules seem slightly relaxed in Brussels. No one is being as formal as they should be, even though women like Lady Caroline are scandalized and trying to make sure their daughters behave a certain way. It’s also really interesting to watch how John Capel is able to run up so much debt each time, with absolutely no one to stop him. You also have some sympathy for him, because he is an addict, and literally the only place he can go for company as a gentleman gives him access to this again.
I also did like how the girls slowly grow up over the course of the year and slowly become a bit more practical. We don’t get a happy ever after, after all, this book is based on real people, but we do get to see one chapter end for the girls together.
If your geography is as weak as mine, I’d just like to put it out there that Waterloo is about a half an hour car ride from Brussels, hence the name, The Belles of Waterloo and not The Belles of Brussels, which admittedly also has a nice ring to it.
While the book was very sweet, it’s primarily focused on Maria, who’s trying to deal with her own proposals and feelings. Harriet, who used to be the more reasonable of the siblings, has her heart broken, which results in a duel between her father and the Baron. You have Georgy, who’s crazy about the prince, even though everyone can tell nothing will come of it.
I thought it was very interesting how the rules seem slightly relaxed in Brussels. No one is being as formal as they should be, even though women like Lady Caroline are scandalized and trying to make sure their daughters behave a certain way. It’s also really interesting to watch how John Capel is able to run up so much debt each time, with absolutely no one to stop him. You also have some sympathy for him, because he is an addict, and literally the only place he can go for company as a gentleman gives him access to this again.
I also did like how the girls slowly grow up over the course of the year and slowly become a bit more practical. We don’t get a happy ever after, after all, this book is based on real people, but we do get to see one chapter end for the girls together.
August 19, 2024
What happens if a historian tries to write a regency romance centered around three actual girls who lived in Brussels during the battle of Waterloo? This book is the answer. And as a historian with a love for jane austen, who has written regency romances (albeit sometimes fanfics and never published) this really sounded like something right up my alley. Because I love regency, but i was always hesitant to write regency romances by modern authors, they are too often bodice rippers filled with historical inaccuracies... This was... the pendulum a bit too much to the other side.
What i liked
- using letters to reconstrue what possibly happened
- historically accurate habbits and customs and clothes (no corsets, but actual stays, with shifts underneath and not on bare skin! girls changing their shoes for dancing slippers at a ball! finally!
- regency era believable thoughts of the main characters, not anachronistic modern relatable gurlz
- some more niche bits of historical knowledge about the battles and british customs and dining are present
what i disliked
- i came expecting romance, and the author, really wanting to use the framing of the famous battle of waterloo, did not deliver. There is a search for love, and a bit of romance, but it's not really a love story. If you come for kissing and heartfelt love confessions and happy endings or even tragic passionate love, you're not holding the right book. The book should have followed the sisters for a longer period to accomplish that.
- while there isn't a lot of info-dumping, you can pinpoint the moment the author takes the reader's hand and is like "this is how it happened back then, here is a piece of history on the napoleonic wars, this is what a habberdashery shop is used for". Especially at the end, right around the battle of waterloo (not a spoiler, it's in the title) you get descriptions of people and events that are summarized in a way that feels like it comes straight from wikipedia. It was like the characters spoke a history book to other characters. And while yes, accurate reporting and people telling the truth did exist, i feel it could have been worded a bit more organically.
- the book started very cutesy and made me excited to continue, but then it meandered for a longgg while until the battle, you couldn't really feel stakes building or a situation becoming more tense to reach a conclusion at the climax.
- it was clear one sister was the absolute middle point of the book, and i do wish the other 2 sisters and their love interests had been more fleshed out
In the end I really liked the book, and it really had me in the first and final part, but the middle was a bit meandering, i'm sad about the lack of romance, and things could have been fleshed out a bit more
What i liked
- using letters to reconstrue what possibly happened
- historically accurate habbits and customs and clothes (no corsets, but actual stays, with shifts underneath and not on bare skin! girls changing their shoes for dancing slippers at a ball! finally!
- regency era believable thoughts of the main characters, not anachronistic modern relatable gurlz
- some more niche bits of historical knowledge about the battles and british customs and dining are present
what i disliked
- i came expecting romance, and the author, really wanting to use the framing of the famous battle of waterloo, did not deliver. There is a search for love, and a bit of romance, but it's not really a love story. If you come for kissing and heartfelt love confessions and happy endings or even tragic passionate love, you're not holding the right book. The book should have followed the sisters for a longer period to accomplish that.
- while there isn't a lot of info-dumping, you can pinpoint the moment the author takes the reader's hand and is like "this is how it happened back then, here is a piece of history on the napoleonic wars, this is what a habberdashery shop is used for". Especially at the end, right around the battle of waterloo (not a spoiler, it's in the title) you get descriptions of people and events that are summarized in a way that feels like it comes straight from wikipedia. It was like the characters spoke a history book to other characters. And while yes, accurate reporting and people telling the truth did exist, i feel it could have been worded a bit more organically.
- the book started very cutesy and made me excited to continue, but then it meandered for a longgg while until the battle, you couldn't really feel stakes building or a situation becoming more tense to reach a conclusion at the climax.
- it was clear one sister was the absolute middle point of the book, and i do wish the other 2 sisters and their love interests had been more fleshed out
In the end I really liked the book, and it really had me in the first and final part, but the middle was a bit meandering, i'm sad about the lack of romance, and things could have been fleshed out a bit more
April 9, 2025
I couldn’t put this book down, it felt like a modern day Jane Austen story. It had the perfect amount of romance and history. I just had to keep reading to see how the battle played out and what happened to all the characters we had grown to care for.
This was a beautifully writing historic fiction based on real events and people. The author did an amazing job of bringing these characters to life and creating an engaging story while keeping it very historically accurate.
If you love historical fiction, Jane Austen or Bridgerton. I would recommend this book.
It’s been years since I stared and finished a physical book within a week (mostly due to having a busy toddler) but I think it’s a credit to this author that I kept making time to pick up this book everyday day because this book was so hard to put down and I just had to keep reading!
This was a beautifully writing historic fiction based on real events and people. The author did an amazing job of bringing these characters to life and creating an engaging story while keeping it very historically accurate.
If you love historical fiction, Jane Austen or Bridgerton. I would recommend this book.
It’s been years since I stared and finished a physical book within a week (mostly due to having a busy toddler) but I think it’s a credit to this author that I kept making time to pick up this book everyday day because this book was so hard to put down and I just had to keep reading!
April 12, 2022
Historical fiction is something I truly love - what made this even more special is at the end the story turned out to be mostly factual!
And what a story - I loved Maria, Georgy and Harriet. If I had lived in this era I would have liked to have been friends with them. Such courageous and outstanding women.
The battle of Waterloo is not something I know much about and reading about it from this perspective was so revealing. Loved it.
And what a story - I loved Maria, Georgy and Harriet. If I had lived in this era I would have liked to have been friends with them. Such courageous and outstanding women.
The battle of Waterloo is not something I know much about and reading about it from this perspective was so revealing. Loved it.
May 7, 2022
The author’s knowledge of and passion for the era shine through in this novel that is strongly rooted in fact. Atmospheric and full of historical detail, the reader gets to know and love the Capel sisters as the story unfolds. Brilliantly written and a joy to read.
January 10, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. Historically accurate and a real page turner. I didn’t want to put it down!
April 21, 2022
I don’t know if it’s due to popularity or just my own gravitation towards other periods of history, but there seem to be far fewer historical fiction books set around the Battle of Waterloo.
This is a shame as it’s a fascinating time. I studied this at the age of 7, and still remember an awful lot about Wellington, Napoleon and the battles. What I wasn’t aware of, was that a lot of British people lived in Belgium during this time.
And this is where Church has set her novel, giving us an insight into 19th century society amidst constant turmoil.
The characters in The Belles of Waterloo are based on real people, which provides additional depth to the story. But there is definitely more romance and fun than perhaps there really was. However, this makes the book a delightful read. It has no hidden depths, and is slightly frivolous at time – but at its core is a lovely story of society, romance and heroism.
Yet Church shows us the harsh realities of war, as we see the daydreams of the girls brought into sharp focus when they experience the aftermath of the battlefield, volunteering in the hospital with the wounded soldiers.
It does lack drama, and I would have liked a little more about the Battle of Waterloo itself, as this feels a little rushed. While the girls themselves are not on the field, more of it could have been shared through overheard conversations, news and updates from the battle. There could also have been a little more time spent in the hospital, which showed the progression of the giggling girls into calm, capable women. That said, I did like the poignant scene where Maria and Georgy say goodbye to their childhood.
The afterword shows us what happens to the characters in later life, which is actually extremely sad. Whilst reading about such lively, energetic women, we forget that life expectancy in the 1800s was short and this is a stark contrast to the jollification in the book.
It’s well-researched, nicely written and cute. If you’re looking for a fun period drama then you’ll love this.
This is a shame as it’s a fascinating time. I studied this at the age of 7, and still remember an awful lot about Wellington, Napoleon and the battles. What I wasn’t aware of, was that a lot of British people lived in Belgium during this time.
And this is where Church has set her novel, giving us an insight into 19th century society amidst constant turmoil.
The characters in The Belles of Waterloo are based on real people, which provides additional depth to the story. But there is definitely more romance and fun than perhaps there really was. However, this makes the book a delightful read. It has no hidden depths, and is slightly frivolous at time – but at its core is a lovely story of society, romance and heroism.
Yet Church shows us the harsh realities of war, as we see the daydreams of the girls brought into sharp focus when they experience the aftermath of the battlefield, volunteering in the hospital with the wounded soldiers.
It does lack drama, and I would have liked a little more about the Battle of Waterloo itself, as this feels a little rushed. While the girls themselves are not on the field, more of it could have been shared through overheard conversations, news and updates from the battle. There could also have been a little more time spent in the hospital, which showed the progression of the giggling girls into calm, capable women. That said, I did like the poignant scene where Maria and Georgy say goodbye to their childhood.
The afterword shows us what happens to the characters in later life, which is actually extremely sad. Whilst reading about such lively, energetic women, we forget that life expectancy in the 1800s was short and this is a stark contrast to the jollification in the book.
It’s well-researched, nicely written and cute. If you’re looking for a fun period drama then you’ll love this.
September 4, 2024
As a lover of history I thoroughly enjoyed the step by step recounting of life in Brussels and the lead up to the battle of Waterloo. It was interesting to read about the women who danced with all these English officers stationed in Brussels and how they coped when the battle was suddenly there and so close that they could hear the canons roaring in the background.
I had hoped -seeing as it is set in the regency era and is described as a romance- that it would be a story along the lines of a Jane Austen novel. Yet there was very little romance to speak of. Not that I’m a romance-nut persé, but if a book is said to be a certain genre, it obviously creates expectations.
It’s also marketed as the story of the three eldest Capel sisters but 85% of the book is told from Maria’s (youngest of the three) point of view.
There are some p.o.v.’s for the other two sisters, the mother and even the father, but it’s clear that Maria was the author’s favourite.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that but, once again, there was the expectation that I as the reader would be able to enjoy all three sisters stories. But it’s only Maria’s life we fully follow and the two other sisters’ lives came across as unimportant.
I did really enjoy the writing style and seeing as this is the author’s first book, I was impressed!
I hope there’s a way she hears the critiques like I mention here so that her next book is an improvement. Not necessarily on the historical front: that was excellent! But more on the romance and lack of differing p.o.v. fronts.
I had hoped -seeing as it is set in the regency era and is described as a romance- that it would be a story along the lines of a Jane Austen novel. Yet there was very little romance to speak of. Not that I’m a romance-nut persé, but if a book is said to be a certain genre, it obviously creates expectations.
It’s also marketed as the story of the three eldest Capel sisters but 85% of the book is told from Maria’s (youngest of the three) point of view.
There are some p.o.v.’s for the other two sisters, the mother and even the father, but it’s clear that Maria was the author’s favourite.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that but, once again, there was the expectation that I as the reader would be able to enjoy all three sisters stories. But it’s only Maria’s life we fully follow and the two other sisters’ lives came across as unimportant.
I did really enjoy the writing style and seeing as this is the author’s first book, I was impressed!
I hope there’s a way she hears the critiques like I mention here so that her next book is an improvement. Not necessarily on the historical front: that was excellent! But more on the romance and lack of differing p.o.v. fronts.
April 30, 2022
Set in the late Georgian/early Regency Era The Belles of Waterloo is a novel about finding love amidst the horrors of war.
One of the first things that struck me about the family’s emigration to Belgium was what a faff it was! A week at an Inn in Dover before they were able to sail to Calais, then another three weeks travel to their destination. What a journey with 11 children in tow! That would be hard enough with my two 😬
The older Capel sisters were great characters (real people too) and their individual personalities stood out.
Maria was my favourite - stealing a few kisses from unsuitable gentlemen - a girl after my own heart!
The battle of Waterloo featured heavily but didn’t overpower the story of the sisters. It showed how quickly things could change; being at a ball one day and losing your life in battle the next.
A great novel which was a historical fiction but steeped in real events and people.
One of the first things that struck me about the family’s emigration to Belgium was what a faff it was! A week at an Inn in Dover before they were able to sail to Calais, then another three weeks travel to their destination. What a journey with 11 children in tow! That would be hard enough with my two 😬
The older Capel sisters were great characters (real people too) and their individual personalities stood out.
Maria was my favourite - stealing a few kisses from unsuitable gentlemen - a girl after my own heart!
The battle of Waterloo featured heavily but didn’t overpower the story of the sisters. It showed how quickly things could change; being at a ball one day and losing your life in battle the next.
A great novel which was a historical fiction but steeped in real events and people.
May 2, 2022
Based on a true story The Belles of Waterloo is a beautifully written piece of Regency romance on how to find love whilst the war wagers on around you.
The characters of the sisters Maria, Georgy and Harriet are based on real people and their story is definitely worth reading up on...I did a little Googling on the family.
It's also the first book I've read that centres around the Battle of Waterloo.
I found the story engaging, a proper page turner that kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The characters of the sisters Maria, Georgy and Harriet are based on real people and their story is definitely worth reading up on...I did a little Googling on the family.
It's also the first book I've read that centres around the Battle of Waterloo.
I found the story engaging, a proper page turner that kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 3, 2022
In addition to being meticulously well-researched from primary sources, The Belles of Waterloo is an engaging and charming read. Anyone who enjoyed Stella Tillyard's works on the Lennox family, or Dancing into Battle, Nicholas Foulkes's social history of the Waterloo, will love this book. An impressive debut novel, reflecting not only the author's professional background in archival research, but her clear talent for storytelling.
April 28, 2022
My review for this engaging historical read is on my blog https://thefallenlibrarian.wordpress....
May 17, 2022
Fantastic read, gripping to the last page. Beautiful descriptions and thrilling story telling.
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